Thank you to everyone who took part in our What Sustains Me challenge, and to all RPS Women in Photography members who voted for their favourite image.
This challenge invited members to pause and reflect on a simple but powerful question: What sustains you?
In a fast-paced and often demanding world, we asked photographers to consider what keeps them grounded, supported and inspired — whether emotionally, physically or creatively. The responses were deeply personal and beautifully varied, exploring themes such as family, connection, nature, memory, creativity, routine and moments of stillness.
Together, the images form a thoughtful and moving collective portrait of resilience, care and everyday strength — offering a glimpse into the quiet (and not so quiet) things that help sustain us through life.
We’re delighted to announce the images voted into 1st, 2nd and 3rd place by RPS WIP members:
The 1st place winner receives a copy of An Equal Difference by Gabrielle Motola — a thoughtful and beautifully crafted book exploring identity, balance and social progress through photography.
Congratulations to Loren, Ruth and Sarah — and thank you to every member who shared such personal, generous and beautifully considered work for this challenge.
A special thank you to Gabrielle Motola for generously donating a copy of her book An Equal Difference as our 1st place prize. If you are a photographer, artist or publisher and would like to support future RPS Women in Photography challenges by donating a book or suitable prize, we would love to hear from you.
Click on the image to view it at full size
Taken in a small village called Chandelao in the state of Rajasthan. It's a photo of a family celebrating the festival of Holi which promotes good over evil, forgiveness and repair of broken relationships. Family sustains me- it is everything and the essence of life.
The bright colours of flowers in sunshine, the promise of growth, new feelings of nostalgia and coming home to myself... this is what is sustaining me right now.
What is sustaining me at the moment is learning: taking courses, signing up for webinars, reading and re-reading photography books (novels too). It is a process of expansion and then honing my thoughts and my work. This image is a cyanotype, produced during the RPS Experimental and Environmental Photography course led by Elizabeth Woodger. I was looking back at it and added a black and white filter as I don’t like the blue (!) I like the fact that it could be anything really, so different to standard photography.
Paula Rae Gibson
That my daughter is ok ,that my inner child is ok..this sustains me
Clair Robins
This image is my homage to Mothering Sunday, created on 15/3/26. It reflects on the quiet rituals of family meals now gone by. Objects can suddenly jolt memories of past times. As we grow older, ordinary things often become more meaningful, triggering moments of fond reflection. Photography is my escape, and regularly creating artworks helps me visualise my inner voice and express my passion for being creative.
Sue Wright
My granddaughter sustains me with her open heart and effortless joy. This small gesture — a kiss blown with complete sincerity — holds everything that matters: love, connection and hope. Through her I’m reminded to pause, to notice the tenderness in everyday moments, and to hold close what truly sustains us.
Louise Knaresborough LRPS
When I was unexpectedly hospitalised with a serious condition, my entire world felt turned upside down and narrowed considerably. The situation was so critical that I spent time in the ICU followed by an extended hospital stay. This condition left me needing daily medication just to function. While I was in hospital, being able to go outside into nature each day was a highlight that helped support my mental health along with my Family’s daily visits. This work focuses on what currently nourishes me
Jayne Odell FRPS
Every morning I take a walk on The Heath close to my home in Newmarket. To watch these mighty thoroughbreds training in all seasons really grounds me. I feel truly blessed to witness these majestic sights. I made this image this morning.
Dee Robinson ARPS
This chair sits in a corner where light pours in, I can see the whole room filled with mementos of our life. Its arms are wide enough to hold a mug of coffee and the seat wide enough for me. I love sitting in this chair.
Gosia Matejuk
What sustains me right now? The sense of moving forward even when life feels a bit blurred around the edges. The wheel's motion mirrors the pace I'm living with- fast at times, unpredictable, but still carrying me somewhere. It reminds me that not everything needs sharp definition to have meaning. Picture taken on the beach on a nice sunny day. Against the open sky, the movement feels suspended, weightless, yet still full of direction. In this blend of chaos, softness, and momentum, I recognise the rhythm that keeps me going.
Roey Xinqi Qiu
A small gesture of removal becomes an act of reconfiguration. What is taken away is not lost, but displaced—circling the form it once belonged to. “I don’t need them” reads as both assertion and hesitation, holding a quiet tension between independence and absence.
Rah Petherbridge
My father, lit by a single lamp after midnight in our Dublin home. We had been singing and laughing for hours. The photograph makes him look stern, but I remember the warmth in him, and how completely he loved me. I was adopted; he chose to bring me home and never once let me doubt that I belonged. I have often felt like an outsider, but never with Dad. He passed a few years ago. Grief arrives in waves, yet this image carries the joy of that night and the certainty of his love. I see this image everyday. It steadies me. It keeps me upright and moving forward
Allyson Klein
My life took a turn mid-way through 2025 when my husband decided to end our 20 year marriage. He planned to take our kids away for the winter break; the first time we'd be away from each other at the holidays. Before they took off for 2 weeks, I wanted to make a portrait of them to give as gifts to our families but mainly for myself to mark this challenging time in our lives. I also wanted to record my love for them on film.
Qian Li ARPS
Amidst the ephemeral flurry of cherry blossom season, a swan finds a moment of stillness. While St. James Park hummed with the energy of a crowded spring afternoon, this solitary sleeper remained tucked away on a meadow strewn with petals—a private, dreamy sanctuary in the heart of a bustling afternoon.
Heather Kerr
This is my church building. I was asked to capture the interior with it set up for communion. Celebrating communion - The New Covenant (the last supper) is a very emotional and renewing occasion. The table cloth and the covering of the elements are symbols of sharing the table and hiding the elements when Covenanters were persecuted and killed by King Charles 11 who rejected the church and the Presbyterian system it supported. Due to pressures on the church, this building is closing soon but my faith remains strong.
Evelynne Rogers
When I finished work in 2017, I took the opportunity to learn more about photography. Most of my work is straight photography – the dunes, the seawall and the patterns in the sand near where I live. To sustain my development, I need to revisit my work with a creative eye. I go for a walk on the beach to clear my mind to make space for ideas to germinate. When I return, I layer up sandscapes and blend them using Photoshop. New colours and patterns emerge. The Sefton sands take on a new dimension.
Jan Beesley
These ancient oak trees stand close to each other in a field near my home. Whatever is going on in my life, standing next to these wise giants puts everything in perspective. They were there long before me and will no doubt be there long after. They are old friends - to each other and to me.
Jill Hillman LRPS
What sustains me right now? Knowing that although life isn’t perfect it continues. The cycle of our seasons brings us the realisation that time doesn’t stand still – trees and plants help to sustain us with both nourishment for body and soul. We understand that, but find it difficult to let go of loved ones who pass before their time – my daughter who loved trees. I find myself drawing on the strength of those fallen leaves who have played their part in the cycle of life as I try and comes to terms with her passing.
Sandra Johnson
I was cheered by the vibrancy of some trees in blossom. I become quite curious when inspecting closely. Then I became inspired, and thoroughly enjoyed taking some close-up photographs of the yellow blooms. My spirits were lifted and I felt so much joy.
Christina Osborne ARPS
I've always wondered if I have Gypsy blood. I have always felt an inexplicable desire to know what is around the next bend, past the next hill and over the horizon...
Louise Wood
What sustains me in this photo is the focus on light and composition. The purple glow on the bridge stands out against the darker surroundings, creating a calm, balanced scene. Photographing moments like this helps me pause and notice small details - taken Canon DSLR
Kamsin Kaneko
The natural beauty of flowers is always uplifting and inspiring. These bougainvillea flowers thrive in tropical climates and require little maintenance. When I’m tired, or distracted by life's worries, it’s these flowers, which are found everywhere in Singapore, that bring my attention back to the present moment. They don’t ask anything of me, but offer me a little extra energy and something to feel happy about.
Jenny Owen
Local charity "Food Works" in Sheffield is repurposing glasshouses owned by the local council, for sustainable food production. Previously the site had been abandoned for some time, due to lack of funding. This portrait of a Food Works volunteer is part of an ongoing documentary series, recording work on the site. I've chosen it because I love spending time in the glasshouses, surrounded by enthusiastic volunteers and flourishing plants. In a time of climate breakdown and political polarisation, it's a model of positive effort and collaboration.
